AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1304, 11 June 1880, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(Per Taiiarua, m Auckland.)

NEW SOUTH WALES.

A further extension'of 56 miles of the Great Western Railway (Orange to Wellington) was formally opened on the Ist inst. The.total open 1 from Sydney is now 247 miles.

Two of the prisoners who unacGountr ably escaped from the gaol- at Port Macquarie were recaptured, but the third is still at large. The Daily Telegraph throws • strong doubts on the assumption that the Port Breton for which the s.s. Genii cleared is in New Ireland, and offers the opinion that the intention is to occupy by force and colonise all that portion of Western Australia north of Perth. It publishes a full translation of the original prospectus to tl;at effect. The schooner Avoca, from the Solomon Islands, arrived at Sydney on the 3rd. She brought a young gentleman named Ireland, sent by the Marquis de Buys in the Chaudernagore. He states that he sailed from Flushing on the Ist . of, September, with 100 men on board. The vessel had a beautiful passage; to the Langlin Island, in the Soutfr Seas. In ftccosdance with a. previous arrangement,

the jmen under command of Mr. Nottinger were allowed to settle on a bfeautifal island. The natives -were most friendly. There were provisions for three months when they but seven more were landed unprovided for. It is feared they are suffering from want, as they have been uuvisited since the Ohaudernagore proceeded r.o New Ireland, where the other immigrants were landed in two detachments under Mr. M'Laughlin and Mr. D. Laycrox at different places. Fever and ague, with other diseases peculiar to the island, broke out. The men worked industriously, but six days after lauding nly three were capable of exertion. No medicine or physical comfort was obtainable. The natives informed the immigrants that there were plenty of whites on Duke of Xork Island, and after several attempts, a boat endeavoring to reach the island was picked up by the Tipple, a trading steamer. VICTORIA. The Works Department purpose constructing a tramway to Sandridge to give employment. It is stated that L 64,000 has lapsed to the Government owing to certain religious bodies not taking up the grant in aid. It has been resolved to experimentally establish a grain exchange at Collingwood. A yoiiflg woman has been admitted to the hospital suffering from poison taken in infants' food of Colonial manufacture'.

It is stated that the Kellys are frequently seen' in the Strathbogie Ranges, and it is believed that Kate Kelly supplies them with provisions. . The body of a man shot through the head has been found in the cemetery reserve. A revolver lay by hig side, with -a paper signed " John Mailer." ■ Fresh cases of death from diphtheria are reported in the country districts. It is rumored that the medical profession intend to investigate the value of the diplomas held by two prominent doctors in Melbourne.

The police raid after the 3£ellys has again entirely failed. It is stated local sympathy with them, gives them warning. It is probable that the payment of Members Bill will be " stonewalled" unless the Harbor Trust Bill is first considered, with a view of averting a stoppage of works and deprivation of employment. Sir S. Wilson has received letters from the Duke of Manchester stating that he intends visiting the Melbourne Exhibition with his youngest daughter, SOUTH AUSTRALIA. Daylis and M'Lean have brought an action against, Mr. Williamson, actor, for slander. Damages to the amount of LIOOO are claimed. A man named M'Pherson has been arrested, on a charge of escaping from the police fourteen years' ago, when- being taken to the Government gaol under conviction for horse-stealing. . Mr. Stock,-one of -the stewards of the Adelaide Racing Club, has been served with a writ, on behalf of Mr. Loughlin, for LIOOO, being the value of the Birthday Cup Stakes, paid to Banter, QUEENSLAND. The full Court upheld the conyiction of Gomez, found guilty of murder on Thursday Island, Torres Straits, holding that the.Court had jurisdiction. Three small wooden shops in Queenstreet, Brisbane, have been burnt. The New Zealand Insurance Company has L4OO on one.